Forums & Events
Webinar Recap: Small States in Russia's Neighborhood
On October 28th, 2025, the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council hosted a webinar introducing Dr. Eduard Abrahamyan’s new book Small States, Russia, and the West: Polarity, Constellations, and Heterogeneity in the Geopolitics of the Caucasus. The book explores how small states in the Caucasus navigate intense great-power competition, particularly amid Russia’s resurgence as a regional power. Abrahamyan argues that these nations’ foreign policies reflect not only Russian or Western influence but also their unique cultures, domestic power dynamics, and worldviews. Using an expanded Constellation Theory, he provides a fresh framework for understanding how non-Western regional orders form in today’s increasingly multipolar world.
Watch the full discussion here or on YouTube!
The discussion explores three strategic shocks that Abrahamyan examines in his book. He notes that despite similar geopolitical realities, the three Caucasus states have varied responses to the 2008 invasion of Georgia, 2014 occupation of Crimea, and 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Vitally, the speakers also focus on the potential for greater regional unity and strategic development, and emphasize the importance of this region, noting that “what happens in the South Caucasus rarely stays there”—highlighting its broader strategic significance.
Feature Speakers:
Dr. Eduard Abrahamyan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Yerevan-based Institute for Security Analysis and a Teaching Fellow in International Relations at University College London. He served as an aide to the President of the Republic of Armenia on foreign affairs from 2019 to 2021 and was a Rumsfeld Fellow in 2017.
He spoke in conversation with Prof. Tengiz Pkhaladze, Professor at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs and a Senior Fellow at the European Centre for International Political Economy. Previously, Pkhaladze was an Advisor and Foreign Relations Secretary to the President of Georgia. Dr. Pkhaladze previously served as Chairman of the International Centre for Geopolitical Studies (2008–2014). Both Dr. Abrahamyan and Dr. Pkhaladze are former CAMCA (Rumsfeld) Fellows.
The discussion was introduced by Lindsey Cliff, a Researcher at AFPC’s Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and a graduate student in Georgetown’s Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies.
Webinar: The West's Inflection Point in the Caucasus: Untying the Georgian Knot
The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) is excited to invite you to register for our upcoming webinar "The West's Inflection Point in the Caucasus: Untying the Georgian Knot."
Featured Speakers:
John DiPirro: Senior Fellow in Eurasia at the American Foreign Policy Council and Senior Fellow with the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute
Tengiz Pkhaladze: Senior Fellow at ECIPE and Associate Professor at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs
Laura Linderman: Senior Fellow and Director of Programs at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute of the American Foreign Policy Council
Moderated by: Tamar Kekenadze, Associate Professor of Politics and Head of the Advanced Research and Policy Development Institute at the British University in Georgia and Managing Director of the CAMCA Regional Forum
Register here!
Webinar: Small States in Russia's Neighborhood
The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) is excited to invite you to register for our upcoming webinar “Small States in Russia’s Neighborhood."
Register here!
The webinar will cover Dr. Eduard Abrahamyan’s new book Small States, Russia and the West: Polarity, Constellations and Heterogeneity in the Geopolitics of the Caucasus. The book explores how small states in the Caucasus navigate intense great-power competition, particularly amid Russia’s resurgence as a regional power. Abrahamyan argues that these nations’ foreign policies reflect not only Russian or Western influence, but also their unique cultures, domestic power dynamics, and worldviews. Using an expanded Constellation Theory, he provides a fresh framework for understanding how non-Western regional orders form in today’s increasingly multipolar world.
Feature Speakers:
Dr. Eduard Abrahamyan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Yerevan-based Institute for Security Analysis and a Teaching Fellow in International Relations at University College London. He served as an aide to the President of the Republic of Armenia on foreign affairs from 2019 to 2021 and was a Rumsfeld Fellow in 2017.
He will be in conversation with Prof. Tengiz Pkhaladze, Professor at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs and a Senior Fellow at the European Centre for International Political Economy. Previously, he was an Advisor and Foreign Relations Secretary to the President of Georgia. Dr. Pkhaladze previously served as Chairman of the International Centre for Geopolitical Studies (2008–2014).
Both Dr. Abrahamyan and Dr. Pkhaladze are former CAMCA (Rumsfeld) Fellows.
The discussion will be introduced by Lindsey Cliff, a Researcher at AFPC’s Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and a graduate student in Georgetown’s Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies.
Register here!
Purchase the book here!
Webinar Recap for A New Central Asia: From Past Attempts to Future Cooperation
The Central Asia Caucasus Institute recently convened a timely forum on the future of regional cooperation in Central Asia. The discussion featured Dr. Sanat Kushkumbayev, Ambassador Javlon Vakhabov, and Professor S. Frederick Starr, moderated by Dr. Svante Cornell. The session built on new CACI publications and looked ahead to the upcoming Central Asia Summit in Tashkent, with an emphasis on lessons from the past, the progress of recent years, and the path forward for integration.
Both Dr. Kushkumbayev and Amd. Vakhabov have recently published within CACI. To read Dr. Kushkumbayev’s work on the failed Central Asian Union of 1990-2005, click here. To read Amd. Vakhabov’s work on opportunities and challenges for Central Asia, please click here.
Watch the full discussion below or on YouTube.
Lessons from Earlier Attempts
Dr. Kushkumbayev highlighted the limitations of past integration projects in the 1990s and early 2000s. Efforts such as the Central Asian Union were hampered by divergent economic models, lack of political will, unresolved border disputes, and external pressures. Many initiatives remained confined to declarations without implementation. He emphasized that while early attempts faltered, they provide critical lessons for today, including the importance of practical outcomes over symbolism and the risks of rivalry between national leaders.
A Pragmatic Turn in Regionalism
According to Dr. Kushkumbayev, Central Asia is now entering what some call “integration 2.0.” Unlike earlier experiments, the new phase is rooted in pragmatism rather than ideology. Cooperation is being pursued through flexible consultative meetings and concrete projects in trade, transport, and energy. This shift marks a more cautious but sustainable approach, focused on building trust and delivering tangible benefits for citizens rather than constructing supranational bodies.
Progress and New Institutions
Ambassador Vakhabov underscored how recent years have brought real breakthroughs, including the settlement of sensitive border issues and advances in water and energy cooperation. Initiatives like the Treaty of Friendship and the adoption of a long-term regional cooperation concept signal deeper institutionalization. Under Uzbekistan’s chairmanship, priorities include connectivity, tourism development, energy collaboration, and people-to-people ties. While challenges remain—such as water scarcity, uneven infrastructure, and differing external alignments—the region is moving from problem-solving to collective action.
Reactions and Next Steps
Professor Starr praised the shift from coordination to consolidation, calling it a “dramatic change” after three decades of independence. He urged Central Asia to strengthen its institutions further, warning that without them the region risks “driving with the handbrake on.” He also raised strategic questions about expanding the group to a C6 by formally including Azerbaijan and about leading careful engagement with Afghanistan. Dr. Cornell added that while ad hoc cooperation has been effective so far, lasting progress will require stronger institutions that can shield regional initiatives from domestic politics and external pressures.
